That’s not a collar...... this is a collar......
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Could be the worst ever
- Thread starter RockvilleBob
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I have never met a lens with an external collar where the rotation is smooth enough for a gimbal. I've owned Tamrons, Nikon 300 f4 AFS, 80-400s both, 200-500, Canon 100-400IS, Canon 400 f5.6, and on.. while some collars were slightly better refined than others and all were suitable for "locked-down" photography, loosening the collar never produced the fluid rotation that a non-removable collar could.
While I applaud the manufacturers for producing lenses that can reduce weight, I think that any lens that goes to 500mm and beyond should have an integrated collar...
Bottom line for me, the 180-600 will not be used with my gimbal.
cheers,
bruce
I just now loosened the clamp a tad and rotated the 180-600 back and forth, seems fine to me. Took a couple steps to the 600 PF and did it again, and yes, it is a slight easier to rack the set but not much, my opinion. Both are on the Wimberley Gimbal II heads. I'm content. Other than the missing gimble clamp foot. First time I have tried it, I very seldom rotate the cameras to vertical.
To be clear, I'm fine with the 180-600 collar, as use has reduced the rough friction... it's just not well suited to a gimbal like the 800PF or 400mm lenses.
bruce
the rotation of the z70-200 is really smooth. So was the rotation on the F 200-500 ... so my expectations are high. I use the lens on a monopod, so that when I swing the thing left/right then the camera must rotate to keep the image horizontal, This is not like with a landscape where the camera might be rotated 90º.
fulltimewanderer
Active member
I normally change /replace all my lens feet out primarily for acra swiss compatibility. One exception being my 600 G, not only replaced the foot but us a RRS long lens support.
So far I have only used the 180-600 handheld. I find the collar friction erratic and annoying. I did replace the coolar with the iShoot to have an ARCA base. I like a collar on when I shoot from the car on a beanbag to provide a little anti-roll stability. My guess is the lens section for the collar mount is not round. Perhaps more use on my part will grind off the irregularity and provide smoother operation. All in all - a great lens for its capability and cost with a poorly designed collar - a minor gripe inthe scheme of things.
Dmacfarl
Active member
I mounted a Arca-swiss plate with the two screw holes to the original collar. No problem on an old Wmiberley Gimbal. Works fine. And I've barely used it this way...